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Key Takeaways
- Tech Pays Far More: Irish ICT workers averaged €1,730.61 a week in Q2 2026, against €1,046.88 overall.
- Demand Keeps Climbing: Ireland may need 215,400 digital specialists by 2030, up from 168,800 in 2025.
- Fear is Mostly Money: 31% of Irish workers say financial uncertainty is their biggest barrier to changing careers.
- Entry Roles are Realistic: IT support, data analyst, and business analyst roles start around €28K – €55K base pay.
- Funding Exists: Springboard+ is free for unemployed learners; most employed learners pay just 10% of fees.
- IT Support Engineer Traineeship builds beginner skills through live classes, hands-on labs, and 1:1 mentorship.
The average retail worker in Ireland earns about €775 a week. Someone in information and communication earns €1,730. That gap, from the CSO‘s Q2 2026 figures, is why so many people are weighing a career change in Ireland right now… and they’re not shy about it: Indeed found 76% of Irish workers can picture themselves in a different field.
It is easy to think about it. But knowing which role fits, what it pays, and how to pay for the training is harder. This guide covers all three, using current Irish data. Fortray Ireland helps career changers and working professionals train for these roles.
Is a Career Change in Ireland Worth It in 2026?
Yes, if you move towards digital skills. The numbers favour it on both pay and demand.
On pay, the CSO puts average weekly earnings in information and communication at €1,730.61. That’s 65% above the national average of €1,046.88, and more than three times hospitality’s €506.78.
On demand, a September 2026 report from the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs estimates Ireland employed 168,800 digital specialists in 2025 and will need about 215,400 by 2030. Current pipelines could leave a shortfall of roughly 5,500 a year. Cybersecurity is the fastest-growing area, followed by AI, data, and cloud.
